Southern Roos clear favourites
It’s official! Harrow-balmoral is clear favourite to win this year’s Horsham District football premiership.
The Southern Roos rubber-stamped their claim with a profound 54-point win over arch rival Kalkee at Kalkee and have now set their sights on bowling over Natimuk United.
The south-west force has pulled a game clear on top of the ladder and it appears there is little standing in the way of the team dancing all the way to the season play-off.
The Roos were in charge of the contest against the Kees early last week and put the foot down in a dominating second half.
Roos coach and front-and-centre specialist Nick Pekin shone in the victory, kicking five goals, while Will Plush continued his good form.
Others such as Mick Phelan and Anthony Close also won plaudits.
This week, Pekin’s men shape up against a topsy-turvy Natimuk United team, which despite plenty of promise has lost three of its past five games.
The Rams, holding on grimly to sixth spot on the ladder, came off second best against Edenhope-apsley last week, Justin Bromley, Garry Hallam and Nathan Koenig bright lights amid the nine-point disappointment.
Natimuk United has a mixed bag in the run to the finals and must claim a major scalp between now and late August.
Whether it’s at Balmoral on Saturday remains to be seen.
Kees to rebound
Kalkee will watch Harrowbalmoral’s progress with a critical eye and will gain some respite from its loss with a victory over Taylors Lake.
Players such as Steve Schultz and Hugo Papst attempted to rally the troops last week but were always playing catch-up.
Taylors Lake, coming off a bye, will find the Kees ruthless on the rebound.
Natimuk United’s inconsistency on the edge of the top six continues to provide other teams such as Noradjuha-quantong, Laharum and Rupanyup with a sniff of an outside chance of playing finals.
Noradjuha-quantong is in seventh spot on the ladder, only two points and percentage off top-six pace and will be hungry for victory over Rupanyup, at Rupanyup.
While the Bombers pounded Pimpinio to the tune of 114 points last week, Rupanyup could not back up victory over Natimuk United and lost to Swifts, finishing 53 points in arrears.
Shane Oakley starred in Noradjuha-quantong’s effort over the Tigers, kicking seven goals, and Cam Bruce bagged four.
Others to do well included Jack Vague, Jason Kerr and Tyler Bye. At Stawell’s North Park, Rupanyup struggled to make an impression on the scoreboard, although coach Jack Musgrove kicked three goals as Elliot Kelly, Paul Trotter, Chris Parris and Matt Tyler collected club votes.
Circumstances also must fall into place for Laharum to push home strongly and make a finals impression.
The Demons came within seven points of causing an upset against Jeparit-rainbow at Laharum last week and now front up against Pimpinio.
Tom Crawford, Cooper Henson, Angus Martin and Cam Streeter led Laharum efforts that included having four more scoring shots than the Storm.
Undermanned Pimpinio needs to continue to be gallant, especially after the efforts of players such as Jonty Dumesny, Jake Gaulke and Steve Thomas last week.
A game at Jeparit between two teams preparing for finals, Jeparit-rainbow and Edenhope-apsley, should be a beauty.
Nathan Cocks and Peter Weir won accolades in Jeparit-rainbow’s success against the Demons and Matthew Butler and Lachie Middleton and fivegoal Dylan Achison were good for the Saints in their important win over Natimuk United.
Swifts have a bye after Nick Pickering and Liam Scott shone last outing as Ben Martin kicked five goals.